September 7, 2000
UConn-ANC ties strengthen; grants total over $1 million

The Daily Campus
by Campus Correspondent - Erin Loya

UConn officials held a press conference yesterday morning with leaders of the South African government to announce UConn's involvement with two important projects in South Africa.

President Philip Austin, along with U.S. Rep. Sam Gejdenson D-Conn., and Amii 0maru-0tunnu, associate professor of history and director of the UConn and South Africa's African National Congress Partnership Program, welcomed Frene Ginwala and Naledi Pandor, two of the highest ranking women politicians in the world.

Ginwala, speaker of the South African National Assembly, and Pandor, a member of the Parliament and Chairperson of the South African National Council of Provinces, met UConn staff, students and media early yesterday afternoon.

One of the reasons for the meeting was to support UConn's participation in projects in South Africa. UConn has been recognized with two grants, totaling more than $1 million, in recognition of the university's increasing global participation.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded a $665,000 grant to the partnership between UConn and the South Africa's African National Congress. The grant was given to promote international understanding and cooperation between the United States and South Africa.

The second grant of $460,000 was donated by the United Negro College Fund primarily for activities involving the University of Fort Hare, South Africa's premiere university for black students.

Both of these grants support the key points stated at the press conference. These include the preservation of South African archives and oral histories as well as interdisciplinary academic programs to educate about equal human rights.

Austin, Ginwala, Pandor and Omara-Otunnu have entered a partnership. Each shares a common goal of preserving the history and dignity of South Africa, a country which for so long has struggled with inequality and racism.

The Mellon Foundation seeks the reconstruction of a new society. They want a society that is better educated about race and disadvantaged groups.

"Racism is a disease, and if we can't cure it, it will continue into the 21st century," Ginwala said. She believes a positive change will occur in the future and hopes UConn will benefit from involvement.

President Austin is extremely supportive Of UConn's involvement with the ANC. "The closer the connections we forge and the more we can link our own students and our own institutions to the great cross currents of change in the developing world, the closer we will come to attaining our own goals of educational excellence and breadth," Austin said.